eDIGIREGION is a unique collaborative project that brings together four high-potential research-driven clusters in diverse European regions (South East Ireland, Central Hungary, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain and Bucharest-Ilfov, Romania). The aim of eDIGIREGION is to use the triple helix partnership to plan, design and implement an ecosystem of research, innovation, creativity and commercialisation that supports the implementation of the EU Digital Agenda in each region.

eDIGIREGION enhances regions’ sustainable competitiveness by exploiting regional strengths and smart specialisations to realise the Research and Technological Development (RTD) and Innovation aspects of the EU Digital Agenda. This will be operationalised by increasing the interoperability between regional actors (government, research centres and universities, and industry) to define and action region-specific Joint Action Plans (JAPs), that are aligned with regional economic priorities. Through a planned process of inter and intra-regional mentoring, and knowledge transfer, eDIGIREGION is a series of cross-border transnational collaborations and internationalisation activities in the technology domains of the Digital Agenda that supports open innovation and boosts regional competitiveness, unlocks new business opportunities for SMEs and mobilises financial supports.

A unique aspect of the eDIGIREGION project is its intention to push ‘live’ research through the pipelines created by the JAPs by facilitating regional actors (researchers, SMEs, government agencies and funding agencies) to bring technology through the innovation process, from research to innovation to commercialisation (R-I-C).

In addition to the direct benefits for the four participating regions, a lasting legacy from the project is the on-line Central Repository, containing all the methodologies, techniques and case studies developed in the project, accessible to all regional stakeholders across the EU. This Repository will be an invaluable resource for regions in realising their strategies for building sustainable partnerships to boost their regional competitiveness in the technology domains of the EU Digital Agenda.